SCC notification form tracker

What the form is for

Under § 55.1-1234.1(D) of the Code of Virginia, renters who want to install a plug-in solar system must give their landlord written notice at least 30 days before installation. HB 395 directs the SCC to create a standardized form that satisfies this notice requirement when used correctly.

The form serves several purposes at once. For renters, it creates a clear, legally defensible record of notice. For landlords, it provides standardized information in a predictable format, reducing the back-and-forth that can occur when tenants send informal notices of varying quality. For the SCC and courts, it establishes a baseline for what "adequate notice" means when disputes arise.

Using the official form once it's published is the clearest way to satisfy the notice requirement — though the statute doesn't make it mandatory. A compliant informal notice that includes all required elements is legally equivalent. The practical advantage of the official form is that a landlord who receives it and later claims "insufficient notice" faces a harder argument.

Docket history: what happened and when

The SCC opened docket PUR-2025-00147 in June 2025, shortly after HB 395 was signed into law. The docket covers both the notification form and the manufacturer disclosure label requirements.

The stakeholder working group convened its first meeting in September 2025 and has met approximately monthly since. Key milestones on the public docket:

• September 2025: Working group constituted. Initial participants include Dominion Energy, APCo, NOVEC, the Virginia Apartment Management Association (VAMA), the Community Associations Institute (CAI-VA), and three major plug-in solar manufacturers.
• December 2025: Working group circulates first draft of notification form. Three major issues flagged: how to handle the landlord unit-count threshold verification, how the utility notification checkbox should work, and what happens when the SCC form is updated after an installation.
• March 2026: Second draft circulated. Unit-count threshold question resolved by removing it from the form — the form doesn't require the tenant to verify the landlord's portfolio size, only to represent that the system is compliant. Utility notification checkbox retained.
• June 2026: Third draft circulated to working group members. This version is close to final. The SCC expects to publish the draft for public comment in late summer or early fall 2026, with a final form published before January 1, 2027.

What the draft form includes

Based on the June 2026 draft circulated to working group participants, the official notification form is expected to include the following sections:

1. Tenant and unit identification. Name, unit address, landlord name and address, and lease expiration date.
2. System description. Manufacturer, model name, model number, and UL 3700 certification number for both the panels and the microinverter.
3. AC output rating. A field for the inverter's rated AC output in watts, with a note that the cap is 1,200 W AC at the inverter, not at the panel.
4. Mounting method. A dropdown or checkboxes covering railing clamp, ballasted freestanding, and patio stand — plus a free-text field for other methods.
5. Installation location within the unit. A description of where on the unit the system will be installed (e.g., "south-facing balcony, second-floor unit").
6. Proposed installation date. A date field with a reminder that the date must be at least 30 days after the landlord receives the form.
7. Utility notification checkbox. A checkbox indicating whether the tenant has separately notified the utility, with the applicable utility name.
8. Tenant signature and date.

What to use before January 2027

Renters who want to install before January 1, 2027 — or who want to send notice now to establish a timeline — don't need to wait for the official form. The statute's notice requirement can be satisfied with any written communication that includes the required elements.

The elements that must be included, drawn from § 55.1-1234.1(D) and the SCC's draft form framework:

• Manufacturer and model of the panel(s) and microinverter
• UL 3700 certification number
• Rated AC output (1,200 W or less)
• Mounting method and installation location
• Proposed installation date (at least 30 days from delivery)

A copy-paste letter template that covers all of these elements is available in the written notice article. Once the SCC publishes the official form, that article will be updated with a direct link.

Common questions

Is the SCC form mandatory, or can renters always use their own notice?

The statute says the SCC shall publish a form, but doesn't make use of that specific form mandatory. A compliant informal notice that includes all required elements is legally equivalent. The practical advantage of the official form is standardization and reduced landlord pushback, not a legal requirement to use it.

What if the form isn't published by January 1, 2027?

The SCC's publication deadline is a statutory mandate, not a condition precedent to tenant rights. If the form isn't published by January 1, 2027, renters' rights under § 55.1-1234.1 still take full effect — tenants continue using compliant informal notices. The SCC's failure to meet its deadline doesn't delay consumer protections.

Will the form be updated over time, and does a prior notice need to be resent?

The SCC may update the form in response to regulatory changes or court decisions, but a notice validly given under the version in effect at the time remains valid. Tenants won't need to resend notice each time the SCC updates the form.

How do renters access the final form once it's published?

The SCC will publish the form on its website at scc.virginia.gov. This site will link to it directly as soon as it's available. The SCC is also expected to make the form available through the docket system and through the Virginia Legal Aid and tenant rights organizations it works with.

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Sources: Virginia HB 395 (2025 Session); Code of Virginia § 55.1-1234.1(D); SCC Docket PUR-2025-00147 (HB 395 Stakeholder Working Group); SCC June 2026 Draft Notification Form (circulated to working group participants).

This article is for general information and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance on a specific situation, consult a Virginia-licensed attorney or your local legal aid office.

Last updated: July 31, 2026

Related Reading

• If you are preparing to notify your landlord today, use our interim 30-day landlord notification template.
• Read our coverage of the public comment period for the SCC draft notification form release.
• Learn about utility notification steps in our guide to Dominion Energy notification requirements.